Newly-minted Port Allen Republican to run for Cassidy's seat

State Sen. Rick Ward, III will run for Congress next year, the Port Allen attorney confirmed Thursay. Ward, who switched parties to become a Republican just last month, will seek the seat of 6th District Rep. Bill Cassidy, who is leaving the House to run against U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. next year.

Ward confirmed his intention to run early Thursday evening, saying the impetus behind the decision hinged on what direction he perceives national politics is headed.

"I just don't think Washington's headed in the right direction and I'd like to take a shot at trying to change that," Ward said Thursday. He said he was planning to make an official announcement within the next month.

State Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen, will run for U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy's seat in 2014.NOLA.com | Times-Picayune File Photo

Last month, Ward became the third state lawmaker in as many months to defect to the Republican Party. In doing so, he handed the party a supermajority in the state Legislature.

Ward said the decision to run for Congress didn't have to do with his party change, noting he'd "come to terms" with the fact that the Democratic Party no longer reflected his values beforehand.

Cassidy announced in April that he will challenge incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., for her seat in 2014, effectively giving up his own seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The next month, Paul Dietzel, the founder of Baton Rouge-based software company Anedot, was the first to announce he would run for Cassidy's vacated seat.